The former Minister, Parliamentarian and prominent member of many international organizations and fora, Gerassimos D. Arsenis passed away today at the age of 85.

Born in Cephalonia- Greece, following the completion of his studies at the Law School of the University of Athens and MIT, he served as Director of the Research Division of the OECD Development Centre in Paris (1964-1966) and Director at UNCTAD (1974-1980). Working closely with Raul Prebisch, he was instrumental in promoting major reforms in the international economic system, including effective debt restructurings, participated in the Ministerial Committee of Twenty on the Reform of the International Monetary System and took part in several debt negotiations in the context of the Paris Club.

He was a prominent member of PASOK for many years and served as Governor of the Bank of Greece (1981-1984), Minister of National Economy (1982-1985) and Finance (1984-1985), Shipping (1985), National Defense (1993-1996) and National Education and Religious Affairs (1996-2000).

His integrity and honesty, his courage and uncompromising commitment to his ideals were recognized by both political friends and adversaries throughout his long political career.

He was President of the Athens Development and Governance Institute (ADGI-INERPOST), Vice-President of the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights and Honorary President of the Hellenic-Russian Society.

Gerassimos Arsenis is survived by his wife Prof. Louka T. Katseli, former Minister and presently Chair of the Greek Bank Association and the National Bank of Greece, four children, his brother, grandchildren and other relatives.

His funeral will take place at the Church of Agios Dionysios in Athens on Thursday, 21 April 2016, at 16:00.

Donations in his memory can be made at the following bank account towards the Scholarship Program of the Technological Education Institute of the Ionian Islands (National Bank of Greece, IBAN GR1001103150000031554540182) which he helped establish.